T. Denny Sanford commits $25 million for zoo aquarium

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — T. Denny Sanford has committed $25 million in matching funds toward the construction of an aquarium and butterfly rainforest on the zoo campus, the Great Plains Zoo and Butterfly House & Aquarium said Friday.

The matching fund donation will be used for the project that will “unite all elements of land, sea, and sky in one location – including building a world-class aquarium and butterfly rainforest on the zoo campus,” according to a news release.

Sanford’s donation requires securing matching funds for the new aquarium, education center and butterfly rainforest. When that match is reached, Sanford will donated an additional $10 million, according to the release.

The zoo and butterfly house have merged and the new aquarium and butterfly rainforest is part of that merger.

Sanford has made other substantial donations to the zoo including the Sanford Family Carrousel. He also contributed to the brown bear habitat expansion and provided $1.5 million to bring African lions back to Sioux Falls.

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